What Makes a Good Texture Photo?

Our Texture / Open Competition judge, Lee Varis, gives his thoughts on what makes for a good texture photo.

Photo by Lee Varis

A compelling texture photograph succeeds when texture becomes more than just surface detail—it transforms into the photograph's emotional and visual core. The most effective images use light as their primary tool, where careful attention to direction, quality, and contrast reveals the tactile qualities that make viewers want to reach out and touch the subject. Side lighting can accentuate the peaks and valleys of weathered bark or cracked earth, while soft, diffused light might better serve the subtle variations in fabric or skin. The photographer's choice of when and how to illuminate texture directly impacts whether the image merely documents a surface or truly conveys its physical essence.

Beyond lighting, successful texture photographs demonstrate strong compositional awareness that supports rather than competes with the textural story. This might mean filling the frame completely to create an immersive experience, using selective focus to guide the eye to the most compelling textural elements, or employing patterns and repetition to create visual rhythm. The best entries will show restraint—knowing when to isolate a single compelling texture versus when contrasting textures can create dynamic tension. Consider how the interplay between sharp detail and gentle transitions, between rough and smooth areas within the same frame, can create depth and visual interest. Ultimately, a winning texture photograph makes the viewer's fingers tingle with the phantom sensation of touching something they can only see, achieved through the photographer's mastery of technical craft in service of tactile storytelling.

- Lee Varis

More examples of texture images by Lee Varis: